Overview
The Associate of Technical Studies degree program in Law Enforcement is for individuals currently working in law enforcement who want to qualify for advancement within their field. The ATSLE provides an opportunity for certified Ohio police/peace officers to obtain an associate’s degree.
To enroll in this program, students must have a certificate in basic peace officer training issued by the Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy or equivalent state/federal law enforcement training. The OPOTA certificate is equivalent to 24 credit hours toward the associate’s degree. Training must be approved by the Program Chair to be awarded academic credit.
Contacts
Division Office
Career Outlook
Graduates Are Prepared To
- Graduates completing this program are prepared for a wide range of career opportunities in the criminal justice and law enforcement fields. An associate’s degree can be required or strongly recommended for promotion to specialized units, supervisory, or command roles in law enforcement fields.
Representative Job Titles For Graduates
- Possible job titles for those who complete both OPOTA (Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy) certification and an associate’s degree include:
- - Police Officer
- - Sheriff's Deputy
- - State Trooper
- - Park Ranger / Wildlife Officer
- - Police Detective (after experience/promotion)
- - Crime Scene Investigator/Technician (after additional training)
- - Corrections Officer
- - Probation Officer
- - Parole Officer
Graduate Employment Outlook
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of police officers and detectives is projected to grow by 4 percent through 2033, about as fast as the average for all occupations.
$72,280 annual salary (police and sheriff’s patrol officers)
Graduate Starting Salary Projections
Contacts
Division Office
Curriculum
Effective 2025-2026 academic year
Law Enforcement (ATSLE)
| Semester 1 | Lec | Lab | Credits | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PST 150 | Law Enforcement Studies: Advanced Standing ( T) | 16 | 0 | 16 |
| ENG 101 | English Composition 1 ( G) | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| FYE 1XX First Year Experience Elective (B) | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
| Semester 2 | ||||
| MAT 105 | Quantitative Reasoning ( G) | 2 | 2 | 3 |
| SOC 105 | Introduction to Sociology ( T) | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| CULT 105 | Issues in Human Diversity ( B) | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| COMM 110 | Public Speaking ( B) | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| ENG 10X English Composition Elective (G) | 3 | 0 | 3 | |
| Semester 3 | ||||
| MGT 101 | Principles of Management ( B) | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| PSY 110 | Introduction to Psychology ( G) | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| ACC 101 | Financial Accounting ( T) | 2 | 2 | 3 |
| MGT 105 | Human Resource Management ( B) | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Semester 4 | ||||
| ACC 102 | Managerial Accounting ( T) | 2 | 2 | 3 |
| LBR 105 | Introduction to Labor and Employee Relations ( B) | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| MGT 220 | Leadership ( T) | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| NDR 100 | Introduction to Negotiation and Dispute Resolution ( B) | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| PHI 110 | Ethics ( G) | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Total Credits: | 59 | 6 | 62 | |
Electives
| First Year Experience Elective | ||
| FYE 100 | College Success Strategies: Overview | 1 |
| FYE 105 | College Success Strategies: Overview and Application | 2 |
| FYE 110 | College Success Strategies: Practice and Application | 3 |
| English Composition Elective | ||
| ENG 102 | English Composition 2: Contemporary Issues | 3 |
| ENG 103 | English Composition 2: Writing about Literature | 3 |
| ENG 104 | English Composition 2: Technical Communication | 3 |
| ENG 105 | English Composition 2: Business Communication | 3 |
G = General Education course in this curriculum
B = Basic Skills course in this curriculum
T = Technical course in this curriculum
• This curriculum displays only course numbers without the added letter.
• The alternative version, when available, meets the requirements of the course version without the added letter.